Referred Hamstring Pain

What is referred hamstring pain?

Pain in the hamstring region can originate from the lower back, sacroiliac joints or muscles of the buttocks such as the gluteus maximus and piriformis muscle. Tension or injury in these areas can put pressure on the sciatic nerve and refer pain down into the hamstrings and lower leg. The patient will is likely to have a history of low back pain.

Symptoms of referred pain into the hamstrings

• Pain which may be sudden onset but also a gradual onset.
• Pain is usually less severe than a hamstring strain although twinges may be felt.
• The Slump Test to test tension in the sciatic nerve is likely to be positive but not in all cases.
• Unlikely to have a significant reduction in flexibility.

Treatment of hamstring referred pain

• Identify the causes and treat the underlying cause.
• Deep tissue massage to the lower back, buttocks and hamstrings can be beneficial in loosening the area and restoring full function.